The Mommy Mix Tape

Priya Mathews / Bakul Dua

So much of who we are as individuals is stripped and then enriched by parenthood. A singular purpose with transcending universality. For most mothers there are so many silences that deserve to be held together and vocalised in safe spaces free of judgment. The Mommy mixtape is a compilation of voices from mums who are still figuring things out. No advice, no sermons, just mothers bearing witness to each others journeys and taking solace from stories that we all can relate to in some measure. Two psychologist moms and a stay at home mum come together to put forth alternative narratives on being a mum. The podcast is an attempt to initiate conversations around motherhood and maternal metal health by presenting perspectives from mums who are winging it and winning.

  1. 08/28/2025

    Episode 17 - The Mommy Mix Tape With Aranyani Bhargav

    Becoming a mother changes you in ways that are both subtle and profound. Some parts of who you are shift, while others remain your strongest anchor. For a dancer— whose art is rooted in the experience of living through the body—choosing to have a child is one of the most powerful decisions she can make. Dancers speak of a heightened awareness of their body, of a deeper connection than most to movement and presence. During pregnancy, this awareness and the deeper connection come alive.  In today’s episode, we’re joined by Aranyani Bhargav—dancer, educator, and activist—who shares how motherhood has reshaped her practice, redefined her art, and expanded her perspective on teaching, activism, and what it truly means to inhabit the body.   Useful Resources: Aranyani Bhargav on Instagram. Aranyani Bhargav, the Bharatnatyam performer on Instagram. Vyuti Dance Company on Instagram and Facebook and YouTube. Instagram, Facebook and YouTube pages for Re-Cognising Dance, A space for learning and dialogue on Indian dance. Instagram and Facebook pages for IDGC, A collective of artists and humans in solidarity with the suffering children in Gaza Some of Aranyani’s dance performances: Natyarambha, Dancing while pregnant, Questioning Frontality/Changing Body Excerpts feat. Shabana Azmi Dancing while pregnant, Questioning Frontality/Changing Body Excerpts feat. Dr. Urmimala Sarkar Dancing while pregnant, Questioning Frontality/Changing Body Excerpts feat. Avinash Pasricha and Akhil Wable The Endless Mind Lori LOCKDOWNATYAM: A Day in Quarantine Light Room Bookstore, Bangalore Zen Shorts (a Stillwater and Friends Book) - Jon J. Muth Zen Ghosts (A Stillwater and Friends Book) - Jon J. Muth Zen Happiness - Jon J. Muth Stillwater - Apple TV Gigantosaurus, TV Show Ratatouille Moana Call to Action: IDGC's appeal to speak up for Gaza's children Link to Aranyani’s performance in New Delhi for the 31st of August 2025 Find us on Instagram: Priya, Bakul , The Mommy Mix Tape

    2h 10m
  2. 04/28/2025

    Episode 15 - The Mommy Mix Tape With Dr. Sucheta Tiwari

    The being and becoming of “mom” is often fraught with contradictions. The experience of Motherhood is frequently betrayed by the institution of Motherhood — by the expectation of stepping into a role rather than remaining a person. The powerlessness, rage, ambivalence, demoralization, and weariness brought on by this new identity are often pushed into the darker recesses of experience — yet every mother has felt them, at some point, in some measure. Everyone with an opinion polices Motherhood; judgment seems to come with the territory. So, how does one navigate and enrich her own experience, while building resilience against the very real challenges that Motherhood carries within? On the show, we have Dr. Sucheta Tiwari. Sucheta is a mum to a two-year-old and a psychiatrist with a special interest in women’s mental health, particularly during the perinatal period. She studied public health at Oxford, where she explored the impact of intimate partner violence on women’s health, and she is a member of the Royal College of Psychiatrists. Sucheta works as a speciality registrar in London and has completed her training with a perinatal mental health team and a mother-and-baby psychiatric unit.     USEFUL RESOURCES: 1. Of Woman Born - Adrienne Rich. 2. My Daughters’ Mum, Immortal For A Moment - Natasha Badhwar. 3. Natasha Badhwar’s Substack. 4. Matrescence - Lucy Jones. 5. The Gardner And The Carpenter - Alison Gopnick. 6.Why Love Matters - Sue Gerhardt. 7. The Book You Wish Your Parents Had Read - Phillipa Perry. 8. (M)otherhood - Pragya Agarwal. 9. There’s No Such Thing as Naughty - Kate Silverton. 10. All You Need Is Love - Shelja Sen. 11. Hello, Mum - Polly Dunbar. 12. There are Moms Way Worse Than You - Glen Boozan. 13. Elephant in the Womb - Kalki Koechlin. 14. Oh Crap! Potty Training - Jamie Glowacki. 15. The Dreams of Matrescence, an article by Sucheta in FemAsia Magazine 16. Dirty Mother Pukka - Podcast By Anna Whitehouse. 17. @parentingtransaltor - Cara Goodwin. 18. @kalkikanmani - Kalki Kochelin. 19. @bacchon_ki_doctor - Dr. Madhavi Bharadwaj

    1h 50m
  3. 09/30/2024

    Episode 13 - It's All Good With Shena Gamat

    When we think of the mothers who have inspired us, our minds go to women who hold motherhood with a distinct lightness and nurture themselves and their children with palpable joy and easy wisdom. Shena Gamat is someone who fits the bill. Her work in theatre and with the Rock Street Journal brought together young people and gave them the space and vocabulary to thrive, much before the dawn of social media. Her beautiful daughter Aditi, Dot. is a veritable treasure trove of talent and a true reflection of her mother’s inimitable spirit. Shena has found a way to redefine herself with every passing decade and embodies the transformative power of self-awareness and resilience. Currently involved in her start-up, “It’s All Good”—a platform for joyful living and curated retail experiences—Shena brings to this venture several decades of experience in the performing arts. She has worked as a theatre practitioner, founder of the theatre company Barefoot, and co-founder of the music magazine The Rock Street Journal. Shena was the Show Running Director for the production Zangoora at Kingdom of Dreams, Gurgaon. In 2012, she initiated “The Dog Would Know”, an effort to bring theatre games and experiences to public spaces across the city. (The documentation for this is still available at The Dog Would Know blog if you are interested.) Shena also worked in the social sector as Programme Director at the Society for Labour and Development, Delhi, where she developed and managed an arts-for-social-equity program and cultural centre. Additionally, she is an active and versatile voiceover artist, having lent her voice to documentaries, corporate films, IVRs, ads, e-learning projects, and audiobooks for both adults and children. __ Find us on Social Media: Priya Mathews, Bakul Dua, The Mommy Mix Tape, Shena Gamat,

    1h 13m
  4. 08/30/2024

    Episode 12 - The Mommy Mix Tape with Tanushree Seth and Tena Pick

    Self Actualised Motherhood - Redefining success, Self Worth and Productivity _ As Adrienne Rich puts it “All human life on the planet is born of woman. The one unifying, incontrovertible experience shared by all women and men is that, months-long period we spent unfolding inside a woman’s body.” Today's episode we delve into a deeply personal and insightful exploration of feminism and Motherhood with our guests Tanushree Seth and Tena Pick. They show us that self-actualised motherhood within a capitalist construct is achieved through radical equality, focusing on emotional intelligence and rebuilding ourselves without shame or guilt. Our conversation highlights the value of developing compassionate language for ourselves and how motherhood can be a truly healing experience if we let go. _ Tena pick Bio   Tena Pick is a social impact consultant passionate about women empowerment, community development and social impact measurement. She is based in India with extensive experience in the Middle East, Caribbean, Africa and South and Southeast Asia. She is the Founder of Project Kal, a gender leadership academy focusing on dismantling toxic masculinity patterns in India. Project Kal works in the prevention of gender-based violence by proactively and intentionally engaging men in the greater conversations around equality. As a Founder, Tena works with schools, corporations, universities and social enterprises around India. Project Kal also focuses on policy advisory and thought leadership in the gender and development space. She is also co-founder of Parenthesis, a feminist parenting platform. She lives in Bangalore with her husband, Josh, and her soon-to-be 4-year-old son, Leo.   Tanushree Seth   Tanushree is a seasoned business leader with 16 years of experience in the US, India, and Southeast Asia. After graduating with an MBA from the Wharton School, Tanushree joined Booz & Co. in NYC where she advised leading fortune 500 companies in beauty, personal care, wellness, and fashion on marketing and growth strategy, turnaround, restructuring, and retail operations. She then joined Estee Lauder Companies in NYC to lead growth strategies for 30+ prestige beauty brands across makeup, skincare, haircare, and fragrance. She moved back to India after almost 2 decades in the US, to run the business in India for Estee Lauder, Tom Ford, and several designer fragrance brands. More recently, Tanushree launched an acne-focused brand with $2M in pre-seed funding, which she exited last year. Tanushree lives in Bangalore with her husband, Raja, and two kids, Nirvaan and Tara. _ Find us on Instagram: Priya Bakul The Mommy Mix Tape Tena Pick and Parenthesis Tanushree Seth Podcast Mention: The Mommy Mix Tape on The Seen and The Unseen - Figuring Out Motherhood

    1h 43m

About

So much of who we are as individuals is stripped and then enriched by parenthood. A singular purpose with transcending universality. For most mothers there are so many silences that deserve to be held together and vocalised in safe spaces free of judgment. The Mommy mixtape is a compilation of voices from mums who are still figuring things out. No advice, no sermons, just mothers bearing witness to each others journeys and taking solace from stories that we all can relate to in some measure. Two psychologist moms and a stay at home mum come together to put forth alternative narratives on being a mum. The podcast is an attempt to initiate conversations around motherhood and maternal metal health by presenting perspectives from mums who are winging it and winning.